Just wanna run trains

[Agent1190]

OK - Simple problem, looking for a simple answer.

So I have some nifty HO locomotives and cars that used to run a loop around the basement ceiling at my father's house. The loop and track are still there, but since my father is an N scaler, he doesn't really give much attention to my stuff around the ceiling. So I want to relocate my equipment to my basement.

Here's the catch: I live in a rental duplex and I don't have the time or resources to build something more permanent for a layout. I do have a space about 26 feet long and 4 feet wide along one wall, and I figure that is more than enough space to set up a long dog bone and 3 sidings to store moy trains and let thm stretch their legs a bit until I move to a house with a proper train room.

I'm going to use 23" radius turns on each end. Will this allow me to comfortably run:

Kato Dash-9's
Athern Genesis SD70's
5-Pack Well Cars with containers (max train is 20 wells long)

The rest of my rolling stock (grain hoppes and coal gons) should be fine, I'm worried about the locos and the stacks. I think it will be enough, but I wanna be sure before I buy material and start construction.

 

[mike8693]

I'm pretty basic my self but I would assume they would work. I run Sd35 on 18 with no problem so I would assume they would work fine. Not sure how long the well cars are but most everything as far as rolling stock goes will run on 22 it is just how much realism will you give up with a massive car overhang(although I doubt this will be a problem).

 

[Agent1190]

Thanks for the reply.

Realism is the last of my concerns, since this isn't meant to be a train layout as much as it is a race track. I just need to keep my locos exercised and a place to put all the rolling stock I've invested in. I prolly won't go so far as to scenic it.

 

[CBCNSfan]

Realism is the last of my concerns,

Go to it, I can't see any problems if it's just to run some trains.
BTW welcome aboard.
Willis

 

[SpaceMouse]

If your race track is 48 by 12 ft then you might have a problem with 23" radius turns. Some companies measure to the inside of the rail and others measure to the center of the rail. Either way, that puts you right on the edge of the layout and in harms way for a slight derail. So unless you have a sponge rubber floor...

 

[MPCRR]

I'd be careful running those well cars and Dash-9s on 23". I tried running my Nines and three single well cars and the whole thing came off. If you only run one locomotive and one or two cars, they might work, but again, be careful.

 

[Agent1190]

My radius will be from the center of the table (well, the curve) to the center of the ties on the track. Since no one makes sectional 23" pieces, I'll be doing it with a compass and flex-track. I could use 22" pieces and have a nice easy circle that would be uniform all around. Would the extra inch make a huge difference?

The well cars I think are my biggest concern, seeing as they are articulated and therefore quite a long "car." Like I said in my first post, the rest of the rolling stock is pretty standard and I am not too worried about those.

 

[SpaceMouse]

Would the extra inch make a huge difference?

Let me put it this way. Could your loco tip over and stay on the table? You could put a lip on the edge of the table if you want. But then you have to factor in the over-hang of the big engines and longer rolling stock.

 

[HaggisKennedy]

I think 22" radius is fine for the well cars. I have a whole assortment of well cars that run on 18" curves, but normally, they run on larger. 22" would probably be OK for your locos, but I have not personally tried it on my layout's 18" corners.....

Kennedy

 

[River Run]

Guys just wanna run trai-ains, oh Guys just wanna run trains!

 

[UP2CSX]

I'd stick with standard 22" radius curves. As has been noted, it might save a train some day and you can do some scenic work on both sides of the track instead of having the train look like it's running along the outside edge of an aircraft carrier deck.